Hearing device for receiving location information from wireless network

ABSTRACT

A hearing device includes: a microphone for converting an audio input signal into a microphone output signal; a processing unit configured to provide a processed output signal based on the microphone output signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a receiver connected to the processing unit for converting the processed output signal into an audio output signal; and a wireless radio receiver unit connected to the processing unit for receiving information from a wireless network; wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a location of the wireless network based on the information received from the wireless network; wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a sound processing profile based on the determined location of the wireless network; and wherein the processing unit is configured to provide the processed output signal based on the determined sound processing profile.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, European PatentApplication No. EP 16182748.0 filed on Aug. 4, 2016, pending. The entiredisclosure of the above application is expressly incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method, a system and a hearingdevice for improving sound processing. The hearing device comprises awireless radio receiver unit connected to the processing unit forreceiving information from a wireless network.

BACKGROUND

Environment classification plays an important role in facilitating thebest sound processing for a hearing impaired user of a hearing device. Alarge amount of processing power is today used to determine theenvironment based on acoustical sound input. This process has is limitsin determining the environment as it needs a constant varying sound inorder to adapt. In addition to the environment classifier in the hearingdevice, the hearing device user has the possibility to change thepre-set program in the hearing device to optimize the sound processingin a given situation or environment. This involves user interventionwhich not all users can do or want to do due to physical limitationssuch as other impairment or stigmatization. Therefore it is desirable toprovide a system that is configured to optimize the sound processingbased on more than the sound input, and without user intervention.

SUMMARY

There is a need for an improved system and hearing device configured tooptimize the sound processing based on the physical location of thehearing device user and sound input.

Disclosed is a hearing device for improving sound processing. Thehearing device comprises a processing unit configured to provide aprocessed output signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user. Thehearing device comprises a microphone connected to the processing unitfor converting an audio input signal into a microphone output signal toform an input signal to the processing unit. The hearing devicecomprises a receiver connected to the processing unit for converting theprocessed output signal into an audio output signal. The hearing devicecomprises a wireless radio receiver unit connected to the processingunit for receiving information from a wireless network. The processingunit is configured to determine a location of the wireless network basedon the information received from the wireless network. As used in thisspecification, the term “location” may refer to any informationassociated with a certain place or environment. By means of non-limitingexamples, such information may be a coordinate of a location, a name ofan identifier of a location, a type of a location, etc (i.e., each ofthe above items may be considered an example of a “location”). Theprocessing unit is configured to determine (e.g., establish, select,identify, etc.) a sound processing profile based on the determinedlocation of the wireless network. The processing unit is configured toprovide that the processed output signal is processed according to theestablished sound processing profile.

Also disclosed is a system comprising a hearing device and a wirelessnetwork, wherein the wireless network is configured to transmitinformation to the wireless radio receiver unit of the hearing device.

Also disclosed is a method of improving sound processing in a hearingdevice. The method comprises providing a processed output signal forcompensating a hearing loss of a user. The method comprises convertingan audio input signal into a microphone output signal to form an inputsignal. The method comprises converting the processed output signal intoan audio output signal. The method comprises receiving information froma wireless network. The method comprises determining a location of thewireless network based on the information received from the wirelessnetwork. The method comprises establishing a sound processing profilebased on the determined location of the wireless network. The methodcomprises providing that the processed output signal is processedaccording to the established sound processing profile.

It is an advantage that no extra electronic device, such as a mobilephone, is needed or required, as the sound processing is based oninformation from a wireless network transmitted directly to the hearingdevice. Thus an extra electronic device such as mobile phone is notneeded or used for communicating with the hearing device, thus the userof the hearing device does not have to carry a mobile phone or to use amobile phone in order to obtain the improved sound processing. Manypeople may not know how to use a mobile phone together with theirhearing device as it may be somewhat advanced, such as older people orchildren, or many people may not want to use a mobile phone togetherwith their hearing device because they find it too inconvenient orbecause of stigmatization, and in these cases it is an advantage thatthe hearing device can obtain improved sound processing by connection toa wireless network, where the user does not have to do perform anyactions on or with the hearing device and/or on or with anotherelectronic device, such as a mobile phone or smart phone.

It is a further advantage that the hearing device uses less batterypower in obtaining the improved sound processing, as the hearing devicedoes not use battery power to communicate with an extra electronicdevice, such as a mobile phone, and as the hearing device does not usebattery power for communicating with a space based satellite system,such as the global positioning system (GPS), in order to obtain a GPSposition or location of the hearing device.

The hearing device may use only a small amount of battery power tolisten for and receive the location information transmitted from thewireless network.

It is an advantage that the hearing device user is not confronted withthe stigma of having a hearing loss, by having to adjust the pre-setand/or program in the hearing device, and it is an advantage that achange of pre-set and/or program does not require a user intervention.

The wireless radio receiver unit in the hearing device can passivelyreceive information from the wireless network, and thus the hearingdevice does not need to or have to transmit any information back to thenetwork, thus the hearing device can remain undetected by the network.

The information received from the wireless network may comprise anetwork identification or network ID, and the network ID may comprisethe location information.

The information received from the wireless network may comprise anidentification marker, such as a Service Set Identifier (SSID) from aWi-Fi network, or such as a Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)identify broadcast transmitter.

The wireless network from where information is received may be thewireless network that is present where the user wearing the hearingdevice is present. The wireless network may be such as Wi-Fi, WLAN,Bluetooth, BLE etc.

The hearing device may further comprise a 2.4 GHz radio antennaconnected to the wireless radio receiver unit for communicating withand/or for receiving information from the wireless network.

The processing unit is configured to determine a location of thewireless network based on the information received from the wirelessnetwork, for example the information received from the wireless networkcomprises a location of the wireless network.

The processing unit is configured to determine a location of thewireless network which may be based on the information received from thewireless network and one or more of the following: information receivedfrom the user via a user input, information received via the wirelessradio receiver unit and/or via a wireless transceiver.

The location of the wireless network may be a location identifying thewireless network, such as the environment of the network, e.g. at home,at a library, at a restaurant, or at work, because the hearing devicerecognizes the network ID as home, as library, as restaurant, or aswork. Thereby the sound processing profile fits to the sound environmentconditions in that location, e.g. fits home, fits quiet library, fitsnoisy restaurant, or fits work.

Furthermore, the location may be the name of the network, like “Tony'srestaurant”, and then the processing unit of hearing device can derivethat the location is a restaurant and a sound processing profilesuitable for a noisy restaurant may be selected.

The location may be a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate or apostal address, like a street name and house number. However in suchcases, the hearing device may enable a connection to the Internet inorder to retrieve information of which location this GPS coordinate orpostal address is, or the location may be provided to the hearing deviceby user input on e.g. a mobile phone.

The processing unit is configured to establish a sound processingprofile based on the determined location of the wireless network, forexample the location name comprises the term “restaurant” and the soundprofile per default selects a sound profile for noisy environments. Anassociated sound processing profile assigned to the specific location orthe specific type of location may exist or may be provided.

It is an advantage that due to the established and/or selected and/ordetermined sound processing profile based on the location of thewireless network it is possible to maintain an overall sound processingprofile or characterization throughout a varying sound stage at thelocation. For example the location name comprises the term “restaurant”and the sound profile per default selects a sound profile for noisyenvironments. Thus if there is no environment classifier in the hearingdevice, the sound processing profile will remain the same for the entiretime that the hearing device user stays in the same location. If therealso is an environment classifier in the hearing device, the same soundprocessing profile may remain for the entire time that the hearingdevice user stays in the same location, even though the environmentclassifier determines that the sound environment changes.

It is an advantage to use wireless network identification, such as W-Fiservice set identification (SSID) information from the surroundings toidentify which pre-set and/or program in the hearing device that wouldprovide an optimized sound processing in that specific location. It isan advantage that it is not expected or required for the hearing deviceto join a wireless network, like a Wi-Fi network, instead the hearingdevice protocol capability can be limited to listen for networkidentification, such a SSID broadcasts, and receiving them. Furthermore,it is an advantage that transmission from the hearing device back to thewireless network is not required. It is an advantage that a location isidentified based on identification of a number of for example SSIDs.Once a location is identified, a sound profile is established andmaintained within the hearing device when the hearing device user is atthat location. Further, it is an advantage that every time this locationis identified, for example when the hearing device user returns to thesame location, the hearing device can load the location pre-set and/orprogram suitable for that specific location.

It is an advantage that in addition to and/or as an alternative tolocation identification based on network identification, such as knownSSID for Wi-Fi network, an adaptive system may be provided. Thisadaptive system is configured to interpret the network identification,such as the Wi-Fi SSID, in order to determine the location. This may beachieved be providing a list of words, to the hearing device processor,that can be associated with a specific type of location. E.g. words like“restaurant”, “café”, “diner”, “bar”, and/or certain “global brandnames” in the network identification, e.g. the SSID, may trigger anenvironment classification of places where food is consumed andtherefore may have a high possibility of being a noisy environment.Likewise, words like “library”, “museum”, “home” in the networkidentification, e.g. the SSID, may trigger an environment classificationof places where there is quiet and therefore may have a low possibilityof being a noisy environment. If the network identification, such as theSSID information, is either combined with the adaptive sound environmentclassifier and a consensus is achieved or if a network identification,such as SSID, is repeatedly detected for a given period, it may cause achange of pre-set/program in the hearing device.

For a Wi-Fi network, each basic service set (BSS) or extended serviceset (ESS) is identified by a service set identifier (SSID), which is aseries of 0 to 32 octets. It is used as an identifier for a wirelessLAN, and is intended to be unique for a particular area. Since thisidentifier often is entered into devices manually by a human user, it isoften a human-readable string and thus commonly called the “networkname”. In an independent basic service set (IBSS), the SSID is chosen bythe client device that starts the network, and broadcasting of the SSIDis performed in a pseudo-random order by all devices that are members ofthe network.

Thus a wireless network owned by a restaurant called Tony's, will likelybe called something like “Tony's restaurant” in the SSID.Correspondingly, the wireless network of a family home may likely becalled something like “home”. Due to these identifications, it ispossible for the hearing device to receive network informationdescribing which type of location the hearing device is in, such asrestaurant, home, library etc., and a suitable sound processing profilefor the specific type of location can thus be established.

In some embodiments the location of the wireless network comprises atype of location, and the processing unit may be configured to establishand/or select and/or determine the sound processing profile based on thetype of location of the wireless network. This “type of location” may beused when the hearing device processing unit does not recognize thelocation and thus has to decide on a sound profile based on the name ofthe network, e.g. in a location called “restaurant” the sound profilemay be a noisy environment, at a location called “home” the soundprofile may be a quiet environment etc. An associated sound processingprofile assigned to the type of location may exist. A type of locationmay be a restaurant, café, diner or bar; a transport hub like busstation, train station, airport; an office building, where theretypically are a lot of noise, thus the sound profile fits a noisyenvironment in such location. Further, a type of location may be alibrary, a residential house or home, public park, nature resort, placeof worship/religious place, where there typically are very little noise.A type of location may be a cinema, theatre etc. where there may be avarying sound profile etc.

In some embodiments the hearing device comprises a memory unit forstoring the location of the wireless network. The location may be storedautomatically or the user may type in the location, fx in an app on amobile phone, or the user may inform the hearing device dispenser tostore this location and a specific sound profile for this location, forexample if the user frequently returns this location.

In some embodiments the sound processing profile based on the determinedlocation of the wireless network is established by that the processingunit is configured to check whether the determined location appears as aknown location in the memory unit with an associated sound processingprofile assigned to the location. For example there may exist a“positive list” of known locations, and if the determined location is onthis list, then the associated sound processing profile is applied inthis location. Thus the processing unit is configured to recognize thelocation of the wireless network in the memory unit, when the userwearing the hearing device returns to the location stored in the memoryunit. Typically the hearing device will receive identificationinformation every 10 seconds, or every 15 second. Identificationinformation received every 60 seconds may also be sufficient forestablishing a suitable sound processing profile, if the hearing deviceuser is moving around but is not moving so fast, fx walking.

In some embodiments the established sound profile established based onthe location of the wireless network is configured to be changed to adifferent corrected sound profile, if the established sound profileappears not appropriate for the location of the wireless network. Forexample the location name comprises the term “restaurant” and the soundprofile per default selects a sound profile for noisy environments.However if the hearing device user only or always visits the restaurantin the morning, when there is quiet in the restaurant, then the soundprofile can be corrected to a sound profile for quiet locations. Thesound profile may be changed in the processing unit and/or in the memoryunit.

In some embodiments the established sound profile established based onthe location of the wireless network is changed to a different correctedsound profile based on input from the user of the hearing device and/orby a hearing device dispenser. For example changed in an app on theuser's mobile phone, or by the user visiting the dispenser and tellingthat the sound profile for this location should be changed to adifferent sound profile.

In some embodiments the hearing device comprises an environmentalclassifier for determining the sound environment of the hearing device,and wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the establishedsound profile established based on the location of the wireless networkwith the sound environment determined by the environmental classifier.It is an advantage that by having an environmental classification basedlocation, a faster identification of the environment may be achievedcompared to when having only an environment classification, and/orcompared to when having only a location determination. An environmentalclassifier analyses the input signal to classify it into one of a numberof different listening situations, such as seven different listeningsituations.

In some embodiments if the established sound profile established basedon the location of the wireless network corresponds to the soundenvironment determined by the environmental classifier, then theestablished sound profile is maintained at the location. The processingunit may test and determine whether these correspond.

In some embodiments if the established sound profile established basedon the location of the wireless network conflicts and/or diverges and/ordoes not correspond to the sound environment determined by theenvironment classifier, then the processing unit is configured todetermine a combined sound profile for the location by determining afirst weighting factor of the established sound profile establishedbased on the location of the wireless network and by determining asecond weighting factor for the sound environment determined by theenvironment classifier. The processing unit may test and determinewhether these conflict, diverges or fail to correspond.

In some embodiments the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network, and thelocation of the wireless network may be determined based on a serviceset identification (SSDI) of the Wi-Fi network. In computer networking,a service set is a set consisting of all the devices associated with aconsumer or enterprise IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN).The service set can be local, independent, extended or mesh. Servicesets have an associated identifier, the Service Set Identifier (SSID),which consists of 32 octets that frequently contains a human readableidentifier of the network.

In some embodiments the location of the wireless network is determinedbased on a wireless identification marker of the wireless network.Additionally and/or alternatively to other wireless identificationmarkers could be used. The wireless identification marker may be aBluetooth or BLE broadcast transmitter. A Bluetooth low energy beaconmay be used, which is a device that broadcasts a unique identifier tonearby portable electronic devices, such as to the hearing device. Ifusing Bluetooth low energy (BLE), broadcast transmitters may beinstalled in different locations much as tele loops are installed inpublic buildings in northern Europe. These BLE identify transmitters maythen have a specific location tag like: restaurants, libraries, place ofworship, transport hubs, airports, train stations, cinema and theatreand others. However typically these BT or BLE transmitters do not have aname like “restaurant” but just numbers, so in order to use these todetermine a location of the wireless network, it may require that theuser defines the network the first time he is there and then thisnetwork can be recognized next time the user returns. Alternativelyand/or additionally other parties may establish these BT or BLE identifytransmitters, such as hearing device manufacturers, telephone companiesetc.

In some embodiments the wireless identification marker is an identitytransmitter having a specific location tag. For example a BT or BLEbroadcast transmitter having a location tag like restaurant, library,place of worship, transport hub, cinema, etc.

In some embodiments the processing unit is configured to prevent thatthe processed output signal is processed according to the establishedsound processing profile based on the location of the wireless networkif:

-   the number of different wireless networks present at the same time    exceeds a predefined number; and/or-   the number of different wireless networks present within a    predefined time interval exceeds a predefined number; and/or-   the information received from a number of different wireless    networks establishes sound processing profiles which are conflicting    and/or diverging and/or does not correspond.

The number of different wireless networks present at the same time mayexceed a predefined number if the user is for example in a shopping malland a lot of networks are present at the same time, then this criterionmay be used to avoid that the sound processing profile changes too oftenand/or fast. A location may be verified or confirmed by detecting andcomparing received signal strength (RSS) from the network, and thenetwork with the strongest RSS will determine the location and thus thesound processing in case of many present networks.

The number of different wireless networks present within a predefinedtime interval may exceed a predefined number if the hearing device usermoves fast, for example driving in a car or other vehicle, and then thesound processing profile should probably remain the same and not changefor each new network location. Thus this criterion may be that if thehearing device detects a new network every 10 seconds, then the user isassumed to move fast and the sound processing profile should not applywith the network location.

The hearing device may be a hearing aid, a binaural hearing device, anin-the-ear (ITE) hearing device, an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing device, acompletely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing device etc. The hearing device maybe a digital hearing device. The hearing device may be a hands freemobile communication device, a speech recognition device etc.

The present disclosure relates to different aspects including thehearing device described above and in the following, and correspondingsystem parts, methods, devices, systems, networks, kits, uses and/orproduct means, each yielding one or more of the benefits and advantagesdescribed in connection with the first mentioned aspect, and each havingone or more embodiments corresponding to the embodiments described inconnection with the first mentioned aspect and/or disclosed in theappended claims.

A hearing device includes: a microphone for converting an audio inputsignal into a microphone output signal; a processing unit configured toprovide a processed output signal based on the microphone output signalfor compensating a hearing loss of a user; a receiver connected to theprocessing unit for converting the processed output signal into an audiooutput signal; and a wireless radio receiver unit connected to theprocessing unit for receiving information from a wireless network;wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a location of thewireless network based on the information received from the wirelessnetwork; wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a soundprocessing profile based on the determined location of the wirelessnetwork; and wherein the processing unit is configured to provide theprocessed output signal based on the determined sound processingprofile.

Optionally, the location of the wireless network comprises a type oflocation, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine thesound processing profile based on the type of location of the wirelessnetwork.

Optionally, the hearing device comprises a memory unit for storing thelocation of the wireless network.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to determine whether thedetermined location matches with a predetermined location stored in amemory of the hearing device.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to change the determinedsound profile determined based on the location of the wireless networkto a different sound profile, if the determined sound profile is notappropriate for the location of the wireless network.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to change the determinedsound profile determined based on the location of the wireless networkto a different sound profile based on an input from the user of thehearing device and/or an input from a hearing device dispenser.

Optionally, the hearing device further includes an environmentclassifier for determining a sound environment of the hearing device;wherein the processing unit is configured to determine whether thedetermined sound profile corresponds with the sound environmentdetermined by the environment classifier.

Optionally, if the determined sound profile corresponds to the soundenvironment determined by the environment classifier, then theprocessing unit is configured to maintain the determined sound profilein association with the location.

Optionally, if the determined sound profile conflicts, diverges or doesnot correspond to the sound environment determined by the environmentclassifier, then the processing unit is configured to determine acombined sound profile for the location by determining a first weightingfactor for the determined sound profile determined based on the locationof the wireless network, and by determining a second weighting factorfor the sound environment determined by the environment classifier.

Optionally, the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network, and wherein theprocessing unit is configured to determine the location of the wirelessnetwork based on a service set identification (SSDI) of the Wi-Finetwork.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to determine the locationof the wireless network based on a wireless identification marker of thewireless network.

Optionally, the wireless identification marker comprises an identitytransmitter having a specific location tag.

Optionally, the processing unit is configured to prevent the determinedsound processing profile from being used to determine the processedoutput signal if: a number of different wireless networks present at asame time or within a predefined time interval exceeds a predefinednumber; and/or sound processing profiles associated with the number ofdifferent wireless networks are conflicting, diverging, or do notcorrespond with each other.

A system includes a hearing device according to any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, and a wireless network; wherein the wireless networkis configured to transmit the information to the wireless radio receiverunit of the hearing device.

A method performed by a hearing device includes: converting an audioinput signal into a microphone output signal to form an input signal;providing, by a processing unit, a processed output signal based on theinput signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; converting theprocessed output signal into an audio output signal; receivinginformation from a wireless network; determining a location of thewireless network based on the information received from the wirelessnetwork; and determining a sound processing profile based on thedetermined location of the wireless network; and wherein the processedoutput signal is based on the determined sound processing profile.

Other features and details will be described in the detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages will become readily apparentto those skilled in the art by the following detailed description ofexemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a hearing device forimproving sound processing.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a user wearing a hearingdevice, the user moving around in an area with a number of wirelessnetworks available at different locations in the area.

FIG. 3a ) schematically illustrates an example of a list of knownwireless networks and locations of the wireless networks.

FIG. 3b ) schematically illustrates an example of a list of knownwireless networks and locations of the wireless networks, where the listcan be updated by means of user input via a computer programapplication.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a flow chart of a methodof improving sound processing in a hearing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to thefigures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Likeelements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to thedescription of each figure. It should also be noted that the figures areonly intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They arenot intended as an exhaustive description of the claimed invention or asa limitation on the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, anillustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantagesshown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with aparticular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment andcan be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, orif not so explicitly described.

Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical orcorresponding parts.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a hearing device 2 forimproving sound processing. The hearing device 2 comprises a processingunit 6 configured to provide a processed output signal for compensatinga hearing loss of a user. The hearing device 2 comprises a microphone 4connected to the processing unit for converting an audio input signalinto a microphone output signal to form an input signal to theprocessing unit 6. The hearing device 2 comprises a receiver 20connected to the processing unit 6 for converting the processed outputsignal into an audio output signal. The hearing device 2 comprises awireless radio receiver unit 12 connected to the processing unit 6 forreceiving information from a wireless network. The processing unit 6 isconfigured to determine a location of the wireless network based on theinformation received from the wireless network. The processing unit 6 isconfigured to establish a sound processing profile based on thedetermined location of the wireless network. The processing unit 6 isconfigured to provide that the processed output signal is processedaccording to the established sound processing profile.

The hearing device 2 may further comprise a radio antenna 14, such as a2.4 GHz radio antenna, connected to the wireless radio receiver unit 12for communicating with and/or for receiving information from thewireless network.

The hearing device 2 may further comprise a memory unit 8 connected tothe processing unit 6 for storing the location of the wireless network.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a user 22 moving aroundin an area 24. A number N of wireless networks 26, 28, 30 are availableat different locations 32, 34, 36 in the area 24. The user 22 is wearinga hearing device 2 comprising a wireless radio receiver unit 12connected to a processing unit 6 for receiving information from theavailable wireless networks 26, 26, 30. The processing unit 6 isconfigured to determine the location 32, 34, 36 of each of the wirelessnetworks 26, 28, 30 based on the information received from each of thewireless networks 26, 28, 30. The processing unit 6 is configured toestablish a sound processing profile for each location 32, 34, 36 basedon the determined location 32, 34, 36 of each of the wireless networks26, 28, 30. The processing unit 6 is configured to provide that theprocessed output signal is processed according to the established soundprocessing profile for the specific location 32, 34, 36 when the user 22is at the specific location 32, 34, 36 of the specific wireless network26, 28, 30, respectively.

The user 22 is moving around in the area 24 as indicated by the dashedarrows 38 starting from location 32 where the wireless network 26 isavailable. As the user 22 moves from location 32 to location 34, thewireless network 28 will become available, and eventually wirelessnetwork 26 will not be available anymore. Two or more wireless networks26, 28, 30 may be available at the same time for the user 22, if any ofthe networks 26, 28, 30 reaches into the locations 32, 34, 36 of theother networks 26, 28, 30, respectively.

Each of the wireless networks 26, 28, 30 comprises a networkidentification (ID) 40, 42, 44, respectively. The network identification(ID) 40, 42, 44 is transmitted to the hearing device 2 as indicated bythe bend arrows. The network identification (ID) 40, 42, 44 may be aservice set identification (SSDI) of a Wi-Fi network if the wirelessnetwork is a Wi-Fi network. The network identification (ID) 40, 42, 44may be a wireless identification marker of the wireless network. Thewireless identification marker may be an identity transmitter having aspecific location tag.

FIG. 3a ) schematically illustrates an example of a list 46 of knownwireless networks 26, 28, 30 and locations 32, 34, 36 of these knownwireless networks. The “positive” list 46 may be stored in a memory unitof the hearing device 2 for storing the locations of the wirelessnetworks. When a new network 26 of a location 32 is detected, thisnetwork 26 and/or the location 32 are added to the list 46.

The sound processing profile based on the determined location 32, 34, 36of the wireless network 26, 28, 30, respectively, is established by thatthe processing unit is configured to check whether the determinedlocation 32, 34, 36 appears as a known location in list 46 in the memoryunit with an associated sound processing profile assigned to thelocation.

FIG. 3b ) schematically illustrates an example of a list 46 of knownwireless networks 26, 28, 30 and locations 32, 34, 36 of these knownwireless networks, where the list 46 can be updated by means of userinput via a computer program application, such as an app, on a mobilephone 48 or via a computer program application, such as a softwareprogram, on a computer 50. Thus the user may type in the location 32,34, 36, fx in the app on the mobile phone 48, or the user may inform thehearing device dispenser to store a location 32, 34, 36 and e.g. aspecific sound profile for this location, fx in the software program onthe computer 50.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a flow chart of a method400 of improving sound processing in a hearing device. The methodcomprises:

In step 401 a processed output signal for compensating a hearing loss ofa user is provided.

In step 402 an audio input signal is converted into a microphone outputsignal to form an input signal.

In step 403 the processed output signal is converted into an audiooutput signal.

In step 404 information is received from a wireless network.

In step 405 a location of the wireless network is determined based onthe information received from the wireless network.

In step 406 a sound processing profile is established based on thedetermined location of the wireless network.

In step 407 the processed output signal is processed according to theestablished sound processing profile.

Although particular features have been shown and described, it will beunderstood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention,and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are,accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictivesense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   -   2 hearing device    -   4 microphone    -   6 processing unit    -   8 memory unit    -   12 wireless radio receiver unit    -   14 radio antenna    -   20 receiver    -   22 user    -   24 area    -   26, 28, 30 wireless networks    -   32, 34, 36 locations of wireless networks    -   38 dashed arrows indicating user moving around in area    -   40, 42, 44 network identifications (IDs)    -   46 list    -   48 mobile phone    -   50 computer    -   400 method of improving sound processing in a hearing device    -   401 step of providing a processed output signal for compensating        a hearing loss of a user    -   402 step of converting an audio input signal into a microphone        output signal to form an input signal    -   403 step of converting the processed output signal into an audio        output signal    -   404 step of receiving information from a wireless network    -   405 step of determine a location of the wireless network based        on the information received from the wireless network    -   406 step of establishing a sound processing profile based on the        determined location of the wireless network    -   407 step of processing the processed output signal according to        the established sound processing profile.

1. A hearing device comprising: a microphone for converting an audioinput signal into a microphone output signal; a processing unitconfigured to provide a processed output signal based on the microphoneoutput signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a receiverconnected to the processing unit for converting the processed outputsignal into an audio output signal; and a wireless radio receiver unitconnected to the processing unit for receiving information from awireless network; wherein the processing unit is configured to determinea location of the wireless network based on the information receivedfrom the wireless network; wherein the processing unit is configured todetermine a sound processing profile based on the determined location ofthe wireless network; and wherein the processing unit is configured toprovide the processed output signal based on the determined soundprocessing profile.
 2. The hearing device according to claim 1, whereinthe location of the wireless network comprises a type of location, andwherein the processing unit is configured to determine the soundprocessing profile based on the type of location of the wirelessnetwork.
 3. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hearingdevice comprises a memory unit for storing the location of the wirelessnetwork.
 4. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessing unit is configured to determine whether the determinedlocation matches with a predetermined location stored in a memory of thehearing device.
 5. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein theprocessing unit is configured to change the determined sound profiledetermined based on the location of the wireless network to a differentsound profile, if the determined sound profile is not appropriate forthe location of the wireless network.
 6. The hearing device according toclaim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to change thedetermined sound profile determined based on the location of thewireless network to a different sound profile based on an input from theuser of the hearing device and/or an input from a hearing devicedispenser.
 7. The hearing device according to claim 1, furthercomprising an environment classifier for determining a sound environmentof the hearing device; wherein the processing unit is configured todetermine whether the determined sound profile corresponds with thesound environment determined by the environment classifier.
 8. Thehearing device according to claim 7, wherein if the determined soundprofile corresponds to the sound environment determined by theenvironment classifier, then the processing unit is configured tomaintain the determined sound profile in association with the location.9. The hearing device according to claim 7, wherein if the determinedsound profile conflicts, diverges or does not correspond to the soundenvironment determined by the environment classifier, then theprocessing unit is configured to determine a combined sound profile forthe location by determining a first weighting factor for the determinedsound profile determined based on the location of the wireless network,and by determining a second weighting factor for the sound environmentdetermined by the environment classifier.
 10. The hearing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network,and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the locationof the wireless network based on a service set identification (SSDI) ofthe Wi-Fi network.
 11. The hearing device according to claim 1, whereinthe processing unit is configured to determine the location of thewireless network based on a wireless identification marker of thewireless network.
 12. The hearing device according to claim 11, whereinthe wireless identification marker comprises an identity transmitterhaving a specific location tag.
 13. The hearing device according toclaim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to prevent thedetermined sound processing profile from being used to determine theprocessed output signal if: a number of different wireless networkspresent at a same time or within a predefined time interval exceeds apredefined number; and/or sound processing profiles associated with thenumber of different wireless networks are conflicting, diverging, or donot correspond with each other.
 14. A system comprising the hearingdevice of claim 1, and a wireless network; wherein the wireless networkis configured to transmit the information to the wireless radio receiverunit of the hearing device.
 15. A method performed by a hearing device,the method comprising: converting an audio input signal into amicrophone output signal to form an input signal; providing, by aprocessing unit, a processed output signal based on the input signal forcompensating a hearing loss of a user; converting the processed outputsignal into an audio output signal; receiving information from awireless network; determining a location of the wireless network basedon the information received from the wireless network; and determining asound processing profile based on the determined location of thewireless network; and wherein the processed output signal is based onthe determined sound processing profile.